14 in. Central machinery band saw

Central machinery is a harbor freight saw. Looks almost brand new. id say you did well for 45.00.

Mike,

New ones are on sale at Harbor Freight for $349 right now, so it might not be the best bandsaw on the market, but it should be worth way more than $50! You can download the manual on the Harbor Freight site. Here’s the link:

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/67000-67999/67595.pdf

It also has some good reviews on the site as well. I’ve seen some real bad reviews on their site on other items, so they may be honest reviews. I usually disregard the best and the worst of them anyway.

-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com

It will work if ya level the floor. (My humor for the day).
Get a good blade(s), balance the wheels, get good guides, polish the tables, figure the dust collection, and you’ll have a decent saw. I don’t know about the riser if ya need one. Alignment is another issue. Make sure that the wheels are true to each other.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

In 2005 there were 2 models. The 32206 and 32208. The difference is single speed vs/ 4 speed. The best blade for it depends on purpose… For example I have Timberwolf 1/2” 3TPI blades for resawing, and 3/16” (forget the TPI) that I use for cutting curves…

$45.00 is a STEAL even for the single speed…

-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!

My saw is the 4 speed.

-- Mike

I’ve got the older version of that saw. I’ve had it since 1997(bought it new). It works fairly well, but to get it to re-saw I had to replace the tensioning spring. I never tried until about a year ago, so you may not have the same problem. I just bought a aftermarket from Woodcraft. I use a 1/2” 3tpi hook for resawing. It works pretty well. I also built a fence for mine. Its one I actually built for a table saw but it was not accurate enough for the TS, but works well on the band saw. It will take a little tuning, but for $45, you got a good saw.

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

I’ve had this saw since about 1985??? It’s good for roughcutting stuff. I keep a large course blade in mine for that purpose. My old 14” craftsman does the finer stuff. One word of caution. Be carful when moving it. The table is held on by a trunion that lets you change the angle but it’s thin cast metal. If you try and pick it up or move it by the table they break off. I know from experience. I fixed mine by building some permanent nonadjustable trunions out of angle iron.

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful. http://gagnerwebsite.com/Deceiver/Craftsman_on_the_lake/Craftsman_on_the_lake.html

Mine is about the same vintage and I put the riser kit on it right away. I then used it with a 1/4” 14 tooth blade to cut aluminum for about 4 yrs. I bought a smaller saw for the aluminum and a few months ago I changed the speed and put a 1/2” 4 tooth blade on it. I’ve fiddled with some resawing and I think it will do a good job when I get serious about it.

I did use it to cut some tapers in 8/4 leg stock and it did a real nice job.

I do intend to change the motor mount someday. I think it causes some vibration because it’s so flimsy.

-- Please Pray for Our Troops / Semper Fi / Bob Ross / www.theborkstore.com

Like someone else said, spend the time to tune the saw and buy a really good blade.
If the manual doesn’t have good info about tune up you can find plenty on the net or magazines. The better you tune it the better you will like it.
You did well for 45 bucks.

-- Don't rollerskate in a buffalo herd

THANKS everyone for the advice!Lumberjocks has some of the best and most talented people I have ever seen in one group.

-- Mike